LA DODGERS: 2017 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series
MANAGER Dave Roberts (third season)
ADDITIONS: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler, LHP Scott Alexander, LHP Henry Owens
SUBTRACTIONS: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Tony Watson, LHP Luis Avilan, LHP Scott Kazmir, LHP Adam Liberatore, OF Andre Ethier, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Grant Dayton, OF Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Josh Ravin
OUTLOOK: The Dodgers are favorites to win a sixth consecutive NL West title with a roster that returns mostly intact. They lost the World Series to Houston in seven games, extending the franchise's drought to 30 years without a championship. Los Angeles had a quiet offseason, other than shedding the contracts of Gonzalez, Kazmir and McCarthy in an effort to lower payroll. The move brings the team under the luxury tax for the first time since 2012, which figures to pay off next winter when a highly anticipated group of big-name free agents becomes available. Kemp has been a surprise in his return to the club. He was acquired from Atlanta as part of the Dodgers' salary dump and figured to be traded. However, he has been a solid performer in spring training. Kershaw anchors the rotation, and Jansen is one of the best closers in the game. A multitude of veterans will be vying for playing time as a result of the team's heavy use of platoons and matchup-driven lineups. Turner suffered a wrist injury late in spring training and will miss the early portion of the season.

CHICAGO CUBS: 017 92-70, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS
MANAGER Joe Maddon (fourth season)
ADDITIONS: RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Tyler Chatwood, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Drew Smyly, C Chris Gimenez
SUBTRACTIONS: RHP Wade Davis, C Alex Avila, C Rene Rivera, RHP Jake Arrieta, RHP John Lackey
OUTLOOK: World Series or bust. The acquisition of Darvish, who finalized a $126 million, six-year contract in February, gives Chicago a strong rotation, and the lineup is young, deep and dangerous. A franchise-record six players (Rizzo, Schwarber, Bryant, Happ, Baez and Contreras) belted at least 20 home runs last year, including a major league-record five in an age 25 or younger season. Chicago also scored more than 800 runs in consecutive seasons for the first time since the team surpassed that mark for three consecutive years from 1929-1931. The Cubs have made it to the NL Championship Series for three consecutive seasons, winning it all in 2016 to end a 108-year drought, and there's no reason to think they won't be in the mix for another title this year.

PREVIEW

Dodgers, Cubs square off in NLCS rematch

CHICAGO -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have been hitting home runs and scoring runs at enough of a prodigious clip this month that it is rare to see their bats go quiet.

The Dodgers will enter this week's three-game series against the Chicago Cubs having won seven of their past 10 games. Before they managed just one run in a loss to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, the Dodgers had averaged 7.15 runs per game and had hit a major-league best 34 home runs in the first 13 games of June.

Although the Dodgers were unable to finish off a series sweep of the Giants in the first game in their past 13 without at least one homer, manager Dave Roberts doesn't believe that his team has become too homer-happy.

Instead, the Dodgers managed just four hits on Sunday and scored their lone run on an error and they will be looking to rebound Monday at Wrigley Field in the opener of a three-game series with the Cubs in a rematch of last year's National League Championship Series.

"I don't think we were over-swinging," Roberts told reporters, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I don't think we're sitting back and just trying to slug. We're trying to take good swings, and today the balls didn't go out of the ballpark."

Sunday's loss snapped a five-game winning streak but didn't in any way diminish the Dodgers' confidence as they prepare to face the Cubs for the first time since clinching the pennant last fall.

Kenta Maeda will start Monday's series opener. He is coming off a no-decision in his first start since returning from a hip injury.

Maeda (4-4, 3.61 ERA) had been pitching extremely well before the hip injury on May 29. He had thrown 14 2/3 scoreless innings with 20 strikeouts in his two previous starts before the injury.

Maeda threw 76 pitches in his return on June 13 against the Texas Rangers when he allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. He will make his first career start against the Cubs on Monday.

Like the Dodgers, the Cubs were unable to finish off a series sweep of the rival St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday night. After scoring 19 runs in the first two games of the series, the Cubs were shut down in a 5-0 loss. But the Cubs have won six of their past 10 games and remain 12 games above .500.

The Cubs will have to wait to know the availability of infielder Javier Baez, who left Sunday's game with a left elbow contusion after being hit by a pitch. According to the Cubs' official website, Baez will undergo an X-Ray to confirm there is no further damage.

Baez started Sunday's game at shortstop in place of Addison Russell.

"(The pitch) got him right in the elbow," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said in an in-game interview with ESPN. "Your hand, it does feel numb at that particular time. He just could not get the feel back. I don't think it's anything serious, but for right now it's going to hurt all night and maybe into tomorrow."

Tyler Chatwood (3-5. 4.12) will attempt to get on track Monday against the Dodgers. He is seeking his first win since May 11. In his last outing, he allowed four runs in five innings against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Chatwood has struggled with walks all season and has at least four in four of his past five outings. He is 5-9 with a 4.07 ERA in 15 career starts against the Dodgers.